20 February 2023 07:08 am Views - 2755
A T20 World Cup campaign which began with much promise for the Sri Lanka Women's team ended with a chastening defeat at the hands of New Zealand Women in their final Group Stage match in Paarl on Sunday.
The 102-run defeat eliminated Sri Lanka from the tournament, with New Zealand's progress now hinging on the result of hosts South Africa's final first round match against Bangladesh.
Dropped catches, missed run-outs and poor ground fielding cost Sri Lanka, after New Zealand captain Sophie Devine won the toss and elected to bat first.
An 46-run opening wicket partnership between Bernadine Bezuidenhout and Suzie Bates inside the Powerplay gave New Zealand a strong start, before Bates and Amelia Kerr put on a 110-run partnership for the second wicket.
Kerr scored her maiden T20I half-century, with 66 off 48 balls, while Bates also notched a fifty, as Sri Lanka were left frustrated -- a frustration exacerbated by their own missteps in the field.
New Zealand Women ended on 162 for 3 in their 20 overs, with Achini Kulasuriya and Inoka Ranaweera the only Sri Lanka bowlers to get a wicket.
In reply, Sri Lanka found runs hard to come by, losing all nine of their wickets for just 38 runs, after Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama put on a 22-run partnership at the top of the innings.
Fast bowler Kulasuriya, who hurt her shoulder while bowling, did not come out to bat.
Only Athapaththu and Malsha Shehani scored in double digits, as Amelia Kerr and Lea Tahunu took a brace of wickets each, reaping the benefits of a disciplined bowling performance where all bowlers had a dismissal to their name and only one conceded over four runs an over.